Photoflash unit



Ap 6, 1957 M. SCHWARTZ EI'AL 2,789,205

PHOTOFLASH UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 15, 1953 INVHVTORa MORRlS SCHWARTZ WILLIAM CASTEDELLO BY ATTORNEY April 16, 1957 M. SCHWARTZ ETAL 2,789,205

v PHOTOFLASH UNIT Filed April 15, 1953 I 2 Shets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS MORRIS SCHWARTZ WILLIAM CASTEDELLO ATTORNEY United States Patent G PHQTOELASH Morris Sehwartz and William Castedello, Plainville,

Comm, assignors to The Kalart Contpauy -Inc., Plainville, Conn.

Application April .15, 1953,-Serial:No. 348,956

13 Claims. (Cl. 246-43) The present invention relates to photoflash units, particularly to the bulb socket and ejector of photoflash units and also to shields and light filters for use in connection with such units.

There are known various ejector-designs of flash units. All or most ejector designs as hitherto known employ spring means'which are loaded by the insertion of a flash bulb, locking means for retaining the bulb in the socket and release means which, upon actuation, release .the

locking means thereby freeing the spring means for ejection of the bulb. The socket of conventional flash units is fixedly mounted,;generally vertical .to the optical center axis of the reflector of the unit. As a result, thereis not much space available for the insertion of 1a flash bulb and it is often rather inconvenient to fitia fresh bulb in the socket. Also, it is sometimes difiicultzto insert the bulb in the socket in straight position as it is necessary for centering the :bulb in the reflector and for enabling the locking means to engage .the base of ;the :bulb. The button or lever, generally employed for actuating the release means of conventional flash-units, is usually mounted on the socket or the housing of the flash unit. Experience shows that it is not always convenient to find and to manipulate the button or lever, the more so :as modern flash units are frequently equipped with several buttons for setting ofi the flash, operatinga test light, etc.

Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the invention to provide a novel andirnproved arrangement of the bulb socket and the ejecting means associated therewith which affords a more convenient insertion :of the :bulb :in the socket than is possible with a conventional flash unit, the socket of which is mounted in zfixed position and which also prevents ignition of the bulb while :still held by the photographer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved socket arrangement which permits apivot- 'ing of the socket from its operational position vertically to the asis of the reflect-or into atilted position in which the socket is easily acccssibleft'or insertion of a bulb.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel and improved ejector means coacting with the aforesaid tiltable socket so as automatically to eject an inserted flash bulb upon pivoting of the socket from its vertical position into its position for insertion of a new :bulb.

Modern development of'flash work, particularly when used in connection with color photography, necessitates, or at least makes desirable, the use of shields and filters in front of the reflector of the flash unit. Also, there is always some danger that a bulb may be shattered by the ignition thereof in spite of the protective coating of the envelope of the bulb now generally used.

Shields and filters attachable to the reflector of a flash unit are already known. However, the use of such shields and filters is inconvenient and they are easily misplaced or lost.

Accordingly, a further object of the invention, allied with the preceding ones, is to provide novel and improved shield and filter means that are permanently mounted on 2,789,205 Patented Ape. 16, 1957 the flash unit and yet permit an exchange of the bulb withoutremoval of the said means from theunit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel shield and filter arrangement which permits to employ several filters producingfliflerentfiltering effects without the necessity of removing the :shield and the filters from 'the flash unit for exchanging or inserting a flash bulb.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved :shiel'dmountin'gswingablysupporting the shield for swinging the same from an operational position in front of the reflector into a position in which the bulb socket of the-flash unit is uncoveredvfor insertion of a flash bulb.

A further object of the invention, associated with the preceding one, is to mount the ejecting means and the shield and filter means in coacti-on with each other so that a movement of the-saidmeans into the position uncovering the reflector simultaneously and automatically effects a tilting of the-socketand an ejection of a flash bulb inserted in the socket and that a return of the said means into the aforesaid operational position also moves the socket into its operational position without eiiecting ejection of an inserted bulb.

Gther and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims forming'part of the application.

In the accompanying drawings n'o'w'pr'eferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

ln'the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevatienal front view of a fiash unit equipped with ejecting and shield 'and fil'ter'm'eans accord- :ing to the invention.

Fig. 2 is aside view of the flash unit, showing the bulb socket with the ejecting means and the 'filter and shield means in section, :on anen'larged scale.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing thesocket With the ejecting means and the shield and filtermeans in side view.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. '3, showing the flash unit in the position for insertion ofaflash bulb.

:fig. 5 is a fragmentary v-iewof the ejecting means of the flash unit.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on'line-6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the ejecting means in an intermediate position during 'anejecting operation.

Pig. -8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but showing the ejecting means in an intermediate position during the insertion of 'a flash bulb in the flash unit.

Pig. '9 is a fragmentary detail view of coasting components of the ejecting means showing the said components in the relative position occupied by the same'when a flash bulb is in its operational position in the flash unit.

Fig. 11) shows the same components as Fig. 9, but in a relative intermediate position occupied by the said components during the ejection of a flash bulb from the flash unit.

Fig. 11 is a view of the component of Fig. 9 showingthe same in a relative intermediate position occupied during the insertion of a flash bulb "in the flash unit, and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view of 'a modification of the ejecting means.

The shield and filter means and ejecting means according to the invention are not limited to use in conn'ection with a specific type of flash unit; they are equally useful for flash units which employ 'the so-called BC system and for flash 'units in which the flash bulb is directly connected with a battery for purpose of ignition. Furthermore, the usefulness of the shield and filter and of ejecting means is independent of the arrangement and location of the supply of current'which serves to fire the the outer circumference of socket 15.

fiash bulb, that is the bulb socket with which the ejecting means are associated may be mounted on a battery casing of any configuration or the casing of a camera housing the source of current for the flash unit.

Referring now to the figures in detail, the flash unit comprises a reflector 10' of conventional design mounted by any suitable means such as screws 11 on a casing 12 which may be of insulation material. This casing may be visualized as housing the electric components of the dash unit such as a battery, a capacitor, a resistor and the necessary wiring in case the flash unit employs the BC system, or it may simply form a support by means of which the flash unit is attached to the battery casing or the casing of a camera. According to Fig. 1, the flash unit is shown as being mounted and electrically connected by means of a contact shoe 13 on the casing 14 of a camera shown in phantom. It is, of course, also possible to connect the flash unit by other means such as a cornecting cord.

The socket of the flash unit comprises a metal shell 15 having an opening 16 in its bottom wall and two diametrically opposite axial slots 17 in its side wall. These slots serve to receive the bayonet pins 18 on the base 19 of a conventional photoflash bulb generally designated by 29. Shell 15 is fixedly secured to an arm 21 constituting part of the socket and preferably made of insulation material. This arm is pivotally mounted by means of a pivot 22 between two support brackets 23 of generally triangular shape secured to reflector 10. This reflector is cut out to form an opening 24 through which arm 21 and, with it, the socket shell 15 can pivot.

Arm 21 further supports two springs 30 and 31 straddling socket sleeve 15, as can best be seen on Fig. 6. These springs are preferably joined to form a U-shaped member, the bight of which is secured to arm 21 by any suitable means such as a screw 32, so that the springs will tilt jointly with arm 21 and socket 15. Each of the springs is provided on the inside with a slanted nose 33 and 34, respectively, the configuration of which can best be seen on Fig. 6. These noses coact with the bayonet pins 18 of the lamp base, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. For the purpose of ejecting a bulb from the socket a coil spring 35, fitted in the socket, is engaged and loaded by the base of a bulb, as can best be seen on Fig. 2. Springs 30 and 31 coact with a leaf spring, generally designated by 40, secured to a stationary part 41 within casing 12. Spring 46 comprises a lower part 40' of uniform width and an upper outwardly slanted part 40". It is disposed in a position such that the ends of springs 30 and 31 protruding from socket 15 straddle spring part 40' when the socket is in its vertical position, as shown for instance in Figs. 1 and 5. The width of spring part 40' is such that it does not cause spreading of springs 30 and 31, but permits the same to abut against As a result, the noses 33 and 34 on springs 30 and 31 protrude into the socket slots 17, as is shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 illustrates the relative position of spring 40 and springs 30 and 31 in which the latter springs straddle part 46' of spring 40. Fig. 10 shows that springs 30 and 31 are spread when they engage the slanted spring part 40", whereby noses 33 and 34 are forced out of the respective slots 17.

As will be evident, the base terminal of an inserted flashbulb is in metallic contact with the socket 15 which .in turn, is in metallic contact with springs 30 and 31 and also with spring 40. Spring 40 should be visualized as being connected with one terminal of the source of current employed for firing bulb 20. The bottom terminal 50 of the bulb engages a pointed contact pin 51 extending through opening 16 and secured to a contact strip 52. This contact strip should be visualized as being connected with the second terminal of the source of current. As

t previously pointed out, the present invention is not con- 4 when the latter is in its vertical or operational position, is connected with an energizing circuit.

Arm 21 further supports a shield 60 generally made of plastic material secured to the arm by any suitable means. Shield 60 serves to avoid any danger caused by a shattering of flashbulb 20 as a result of the firing of same. The shield further serves as a support for additional filters which the photographer may want to place in front of the reflector. For this purpose, an eyelet 63 is provided in the center of shield 60. This eyelet forms the female component of a snap fastener, the male component 64 of which is secured to a filter .disc 65 which is clipped to theinside of shield 60, generally parallel thereto. This filter 65 may have, for instance, a light transparency and a color value suitable for color photography. As will be apparent, a second and possibly also a third filter can be attached to shield 60 also by any other suitable means, such as spring clamps reaching over the periphery of shield 60. Shield 60 is preferably provided with a grip 66 to facilitate tilting of the shield about pivot pin 22 from the position of Fig. 3 into the position of Fig. 4.

The operation of the ejecting means and filter means, as hereinbefore described, is as follows:

Let it be assumed that a flash bulb is inserted in the flash unit, that shield 60 and filter 65 are in operational position in front of the flashbulb and the reflector and that the fiashbulb has been fired. This position of the aforementioned components is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Let it be further assumed that it is desired to replace the spent fiashbulb by a fresh bulb. For this purpose the photographer swings shield 60 and filter 65 into the position of Fig. 4 by pulling the shield outwardly by means of handle 66.

When the shield is in the position of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, retaining springs 30 and 31 are in the position of Fig. 9, that is, they straddle the narrow part 40' of spring 40. Consequently, they hug the side wall of shell 15 so that bayonet pins 18 abut against noses 33 and 34 of springs 30 and 31, respectively, thereby retaining the fiashbulb in the socket against the action of the loaded spring 35. As new shield 60 is tilted outwardly, the shield and with it shell 15 and springs 30 and 31 reach the position of Fig. 7. During the movement of the socket and the springs from the position of Fig. 3 into the position of Fig. 4, springs 30 and 31 ride along the respective edges of the outwardly tapered spring portion 40". As a re sult, springs 30 and 31 are spread outwardly and now occupy the positions shown in Fig. 10. Consequently, noses 33 and 34 release bayonet pins 18. Spring 35 is .now freed to eject the flashbulb from the socket, as is indicated in Fig. 7. When the shield 60 and'filter 65 reach the position of Fig. 4, the flash unit is ready for the insertion of a new flashbulb. As will be observed, in

Fig. 4 shell 15 faces outwardly so that there is ample space available to insert the new bulb. The bulb is inserted by simply fitting bayonet pins 18 in slots 17 of the socket shell. The slant of noses 33 and 34 permits a convenient insertion of the bulb base 19 as pins 18 will force springs 30 and 31 sufficiently outwardly to permit passage of pins 18. As will be evident, insertion of the bulb base in the position of Fig. 6 reloads spring 35 and also establishes contact between the bottom terminal 59 and contact pin 51. Shield 60 and filter 65 are now swung back into the position of Figs. 2 and 3.

During this return movement of the shield and, with it, of socket shell 15 and springs 30 and 31, it is essen tial that springs 36 and 31 are not again spread apart as such spreading of the springs would result in an ejcc tion of the newly inserted bulb. Fig. 8 shows an intermediate position occupied by socket shell 15 and springs 30 and 31 during the movement of the shield andthe socket from the position of Fig. 4 into the position of Fig. 3. As is shown in Fig. 8 and the companion Fig. 11, the forward ends of springs 30 and 31 do not straddle arranges the edges of the tapered spring part 40', but the tips of the springs abut against and ride along the respective face side of spring part 40 until they reach the narrow spring part 40. Consequently, the return of the shield and the socket shell into the respective operational position does not cause a spreading of springs '30 and 31 effecting an ejection of the flashbu'lb.

The flash unit is new again ready for use.

Fig. 12 shows a flash socket with ejector in which the socket shell 15 according to .the previously described exemplifications of the invention is replaced by a socket shell 33 .ot the type shown in the previous Patent 2,615,071 of the applicants herein. Socket shell 38 has plurality of pairs of axial slots 38' extending from the receiving end of she.l 33. The slots of each pair are disposed diametrically opposite to each other, and the axial length of the slots is such that the bottom terminal 59 of an inserted flash lamp can engage the bottom terminal 51 in the shell. The flash lamp is retained in the socketshell against the action of spring 35 by pointed noses 36 and 37 on springs 30 and 31. These noses are made of steel or any other suitable material harder than the material of the lamp base 19, usually brass. ,As a result, the pressure of springs 30 and .31 will cause noses 36 and 37 to bite into the material of base 19 thereby preventing an ejection of an inserted lamp. As will be noted, the noses are so slanted that they and springs 39 and 31 will be forced outwardly when the lamp base is inserted in the socket shell.

The operation .of the ejector means according to Fig. 12 will be obvious from the previous explanation. It suffices to state that a tilting of the socket shell in the-direction indicated in Fig. 7 by the arrow effects a spreading of springs 39 and 31 thereby releasing noses 36 and .37 inom engagement with the lamp base While upon tilting of the shell in the direction of Fig. 8 the springs 30 and '31 will remain in the position in which the noses are in engagement with the lamp base.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain now preferred examples and embodiments of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that Various changes and modifications may he made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a photoflash unit a base structure, a reflector fixedly mounted on said structure, a socket for receiving therein a base of a photoflash lamp, yieldable ejecting means Within the socket adapted to be loaded by the insertion of a flash lamp base, hinge means tiltably supporting said socket on said base structure for pivoting the socket between an operational position and a loading position relative to the reflector, yieldable retaining means mounted on the socket for movement in unison therewith and yieldingly biased into a position in which said retaining means are in engagement with a flash lamp base inserted in the socket for retaining the flash lamp therein against the action of said yieldable ejecting means, and actuating means fixedly mounted on the base structure and located in the path of said retaining means upon tilting of the socket and the retaining means toward the loading position, engagement of the actuating means with the retaining means moving the latter against said bias into a position in which said retaining means are disengaged from the lamp base thereby releasing the yieldable ejecting means for ejection of the flash lamp.

2. in a photoflash unit a base structure, a reflector fixedly mounted on said structure, a socket for receiving therein a base of a photoflash lamp, yieldable ejecting means within the socket adapted to be loaded by the insertion of a flash lamp base, hinge means tiltably supporting said socket on said base structure for pivoting the socket between an operational positionandaloading position relative to the reflector, spring means mounted on the socket for movement in unison therewith, a retaining member on said spring means, said spring means being biased into a position in which said retaining member engages a flash lamp base inserted in the socket i-orretaining the flash lamp therein against the action of said yieldable means, and actuating means fixedly mounted on the base structure and located in the path of said spring means upon tilting of the socket and the spring means toward the loading position, engagement of the actuating means with the spring means bending the latter into 'a position in which said retaining member thereon is disengaged from the lamp base thereby releasing the yieldable means for ejection of the flash lamp.

3. in a photoflash unit a base structure, a-reflector fixedly mounted on the base structure, a socket having axial slots for receiving therein the pins of a photoflas'h lamp with a bayonet type base, yieldable ejecting means within the socket adapted to *be loaded by insertion of a flash lamp base, hinge means tiltably supporting said socket on the base structure for pivoting the socket between an operational position and a loading position relative to the reflector, spring means mounted on the socket 'for movement in unison therewith, and a retaining member on said spring means, the said spring means being biased into a position in which said retaining member protrudes into said socket through one of the slots thereof and engages the respective pin on the base of the flash lamp inserted in the socket for retaining the flash lamp in the socket against the action of said yieldable means, and actuating means fixedly mounted on the base str cture and located in the path of said spring means upon tilting of the socket and the spring means toward the leading position, engagement of the actuating means with the spring means bending the latter into a position in which the retaining member thereon is disengaged from the pin thereby releasing the yieldable means for'cjection of the flash lamp.

4. In a photoflash unit a base structure, a reflector fixedly mounted on the base structure, a socket having axial slots for receiving therein the pins of a photoflash lamp with a bayonet type base, yieldable ejecting means within the socket adapted to be loaded by insertion of a flash lamp base, hinge means tiltably supporting said socket :on the base structure for pivoting the socket between an operational position and a loading position rela tive to the reflector, a pair of spring means bracketing said socket and mounted thereon for movement in unison with the socket, a nose extending from each of said spring means, said spring means being biased into a position in which said noses protrude through a respective one of said slots into said socket and overlie the pins on the base of a flash lamp inserted in the socket for retaining the flash lamp in the socket against the action of said yieldable means, an actuating member fixedly mounted on the base structure and located in the path of said spring means upon tilting of the socket and the spring means toward the loading position, engagement of the actuating member with the spring means bending the latter from the aforesaid position into a position into which said noses are withdrawn from said pins thereby releasing the yieldable means for ejection of the flash lamp.

5. In a photoflash unit including a base structure, a fixedly mounted reflector fixedly mounted on the base structure, a socket having axial slots for receiving therein the pins of a photoflash lamp with a bayonet type base, yieldable ejecting means within the socket adapted to be loaded by insertion of a flash lamp base, hinge means tilta'bly supporting said socket on the base structure for tilting the socket between a position vertically to the optical center axis of the reflector and a position tilted relative to said axis, a pair of springy retaining means bracketing said socket and mounted on the socket for movement in unison therewith, the said retaining means being biased into a position in which h s m protrude into said socket through a respective one of the slots thereof, each of said retainingmeans being engageable with a pin on a flash lamp base inserted in the socket shell for retaining the flash lamp in the socket against the action of said yieldable means, and an actuating member mounted on the base structure and located to be straddled by said two retaining means upon tilting of the socket shell from the vertical position toward the tilted position, the said straddling of the actuating member by the retaining means bending the latter into a position in which said retaining means are disengaged from the pins thereby releasing the yieldable means for ejection of the flash lamp.

6. In a photoflash unit, a base structure, a reflector fixedly mounted on the base structure, a socket having axial slots for receiving therein the pins of a photoflash lamp with a bayonet type base, yieldable ejecting means within the socket adapted to be loaded by insertion of a flash lamp base, hinge means tiltably supporting said socket on the base structure for pivoting the socket between an operational position and a loading position relative to the reflector, a pair of springy retaining means bracketing said socket and mounted for movement in unison therewith, the said retaining means being biased into a position in which the same protrude into said 'socket through a respective one of the slots thereof, each of said retaining means being engageable with a pin on a flash lamp base inserted in the socket for retaining the flash lamp in the socket against the action of said yieldable means, and an actuating member fixedly mounted on the base structure and located to be straddled by said two retaining means upon tilting of the socket and the retaining means in one direction and to be engaged on one of its face sides upon tilting of the socket and the retaining means in opposite direction, the said straddling of the actuating member by the retaining means bending the latter into a position in which said retaining means are disengaged from the pins thereby releasing the yieldable means for ejection of the flash lamp, and the said engagement of one of the face sides of the actuating member permitting the retaining means to remain in said position of engagement with the pins on the lamp base thereby preventing an ejection of the flash larnp by said opposite socket movement.

7. A photoflash unit according to claim 6, wherein each of said two springy retaining means bracketing the socket comprises a flat spring biased against the outer wall of the socket and laterally protruding therefrom, and wherein the said actuating member is mounted in a spacial relationship relative to the socket and the springs such that the protruding ends of said springs straddle the actuating member for the first part of a tilting movement of the socket and the springs in the direction away from the operational position of the socket thereby effecting an ejection of the flash lamp and ride upon a face side of the actuating member for the last part of a tilting movement of the socket and the springs in the direction toward said vertical position of the socket, the said springs being disengaged from the actuating member for the remaining part of tilting movements in either direction.

8. A photoflash unit according to claim 7, wherein the said actuating member comprises an elongated member mounted at one end on the base structure, said member having a lower part of uniform width adjacent to said ,mounted end and an upper outwardly tapered part, the

width of said uniform member part being substantially equal to the spacing between said protruding ends of the springs in the retaining position thereof and the Width of said tapered part toward the wider end thereof being in excess of the said spacing, the saidspn'ngs straddling the uniform member part when the socket is in its operational position and, upon tilting of the socket away from 'its operational position, straddling the tapered member part thereby causing spreading of the springs effecting an tilting of the socket toward its operational position, riding to abut against the socket shell in the operational position thereof.

10. A photoflash unit comprising in combination, a casing, a reflector stationarily mounted on said casing, a socket for receiving therein the base of a photoflash lamp fixedly mounted on the casing, yieldable ejecting means within the socket adapted to be loaded by inseition of a flash lamp base, hinge means tiltably supporting said socket on the casing for pivoting the socket between an operational position and a loading position relative to the reflector, yieldable retaining means mounted on the socket for movement in unison with said socket and biased into a position in which said retaining means are in engagement with a flash lamp base inserted in the socket for retaining the flash lamp therein against the action of said yieldable ejecting means, an actuating means located in the path of said retaining means upon tilting of the socket and the retaining means toward the loading position, engagement of the actuating means with the retaining means forcing the latter into a position in which said retaining means are disengaged from the lamp base thereby releasing the yieldable ejecting means vfor ejection of the flash lamp, and disc shaped shielding means mounted on said hinge means for movement in unison with said socket, the said shielding means occupying a shielding position substantially covering the open side of the reflector and in front of the socket when the latter is in its operational position, tilting of the socket in said predetermined direction moving the shielding means into a position uncovering the socket and the reflector and effecting ejection of the flash lamp.

11. A photoflash unit comprising, in combination, a casing, a reflector fixedly mounted on the casing, a socket having axial slots for receiving therein the pins of a photoflash lamp with a bayonet type base, yieldable ejecting means within the socket adapted to be loaded by insertion of a flash lamp base, hinge means tiltably supporting said socket on the casing within the space defined by the reflector for pivoting the socket between an opera tional position and a loading position relative to the reflector, a pair of spring means bracketing said socket and mounted thereon for movement in unison with the socket, a retaining member on each of said spring means, the said spring means being biased into a position in which each of said retaining members protrudes into the socket through the respective one of the slots thereof, each of said retaining members being engageable with a pin on the base of a flash lamp inserted in the socket for retaining the flash lamp therein against the action of said yieldable means, an actuating member fixedly mounted in the casing and located in the path of said spring means upon tilting of the socket and the spring means toward the loading position, said engagement of the actuating member with the spring means bending the latter into a position in which the retaining members thereon are disengaged from the respective pins thereby releasing the yieldable means for ejection of the flash lamp, and disc shaped shielding means mounted on the hinge means for movement in unison with the socket, the said shielding means occupying a position substantially covering the open side of the reflector and in front of the socket when the latter is in its operational position and being movable into a position uncovering said reflector and said socket, movement of the shielding means toward the latter position eflecting pivoting of the socket toward "in f" the loading position causing the ejection of the flash lamp.

12. A photoflash unit according to claim 11, wherein the said shielding means are tiltable from a position generally vertical to the optical center axis of the reflector to a position generally parallel to the said axis.

13. In a photoflash unit a base structure, a reflector fixedly mounted on said base structure, a socket for receiving therein a base of a photoflash lamp, said socket including a pair of diametrically opposite axial slots extending from the base receiving end of the socket, spring actuated means mounted within said socket at the bottom thereof and arranged to be loaded by the base of an inserted flash lamp and to eject the same when released, said spring means constituting one of the socket terminals the other being constituted by the socket wall, hinge means tiltably supporting said socket on the base structure for pivoting the socket between an operational position and a loading position relative to the reflector, a pair of springy retaining means bracketing said socket and mounted thereon for movement in unison with the socket, each of said retaining means having on its side facing the socket a pointed nose and being biased into a position in which the respective pointed nose protrudes into the socket through one of said slots for causing the noses to engage the base material of an inserted flash lamp thereby retaining the same within the socket against the action of said spring means, and an actuating memher fixedly mounted on the base structure and located to be straddled by said two retaining means upon tilting of the socket and the retaining means toward the loading position of the socket relative to the reflector and to be engaged on one of its faces upon tilting of the socket and the retaining means toward the operational position of the socket, said straddling of the actuating member by the retaining means bending the latter into a position in which the pointed noses thereon are disengaged from the material of the lamp base thereby releasing the spring means for ejection of the flash lamp, and said engagement of one of the faces permitting the noses to remain in said position of engagement with the base material thereby preventing an ejection of the flash lamp by said movement of the socket toward the operational position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,272,808 Janpvsky July 16, 1918 1,351,675 Money Aug. 31, 1920 1,921,069 Buchanan Aug. 8, 1933 2,099,767 Marks Nov. 23, 1937 2,228,646 Summers Jan. 14, 1941 2,341,431 Fairbanks Feb. 8, 1944 2,602,879 Whelan July 8, 1952 2,608,640 Willoughby Aug. 26, 1952 2,673,926 Siringo Mar. 30, 1954 

